皇家华人

The acquisition will see Satalia, whose award-winning AI technology helps optimise business efficiency, join WPP鈥檚 Wunderman Thompson agency, which provides marketing communications services across the world, including consultancy, creative support and technology.

Satalia Ltd is a spinout from UCL Computer Science, founded by Dr Daniel Hulme in 2008, and a global leader in enterprise AI. It is one of the UK鈥檚 fastest-growing tech companies, whose clients include BT, DFS, DS Smith, PwC, Gigaclear, Tesco and Unilever. It has strong expertise in combining machine learning and business optimisation, from supply chain logistics to human resources.

Dr Hulme, who holds a PhD in AI from UCL and is currently the department's听Entrepreneur in Residence, will become WPP鈥檚 Chief AI Officer and will work closely with WPP鈥檚 Chief Technology Officer and its agencies to promote AI capabilities across the company.

Dr Steven Schooling, Director, Engineering and Physical Sciences, UCL Business said: 鈥淲e are proud to have supported Dr Daniel Hulme and Satalia from the start of their journey when 鈥淎I鈥� was not the commonly known term that it is today, through to today鈥檚 announcement. UCL Business鈥檚 purpose is to maximise the real-world impact of the skills, knowledge and vision of UCL鈥檚 researchers.

鈥淪atalia鈥檚 acquisition by WPP is a prime example of the particularly huge potential in our early career researcher base where the entrepreneurial environment of UCL and the business support infrastructure provided by the UCLB team helps such talent reach fruition. We are delighted that the Satalia team will now go on to play a key role in driving the future growth and technology leadership of one of UK Plc鈥檚 most famous companies.鈥�

Professor David Price, UCL Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement), said: 鈥淪atalia鈥檚 acquisition by WPP demonstrates how UCL鈥檚 world-leading AI research and innovation is shaping the future of automation and machine intelligence, at the heart of a global city. This deal represents recognition of the leading nature of Satalia鈥檚 work and WPP鈥檚 global reach and resources can only amplify its impact.鈥�

In 2019 UCL launched the Centre for Artificial Intelligence to strengthen the institution鈥檚 foundational AI research, delivering the UKRI-funded Centre for Doctoral Training in Foundational Artificial Intelligence. UCL is also host to the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI-enabled Healthcare Systems.

In addition to Satalia, previous world-leading AI companies to have emerged from UCL鈥檚 research community include Google Deepmind and Bloomsbury.AI, which joined Facebook in London in 2018. UCLB also operates Portico Ventures, a framework designed to help researchers set up technology-based businesses in fields such as AI that can thrive in a fast-moving ecosystem by allowing for a template licence and equity consideration for IP for non-patentable, high growth spinout opportunities.

Links

• UCL Computer Science
• UCL Engineering

Image

Source

Media contact

Kate Corry

Tel: +44 (0)20 3108 6995

Email: k.corry [at] ucl.ac.uk